Keeping your grease trap functional and compliant is important to running a restaurant. This receptacle, technically known as a grease interceptor, is what kitchen wastewater flows through before entering the sewer waste system.
Grease Trap Perth must be emptied regularly, or they leak grease into the internal plumbing system, creating blockages and resulting in fines or downtime as internal plumbing is repaired. One way to reduce the frequency of cleanings is by chemically treating the grease trap.
Grease traps are systems within a drain or waste pipe that help prevent fats, oils, and greases (FOG) from entering the wider sewer system. Commercial kitchens produce a lot of FOG, which, if left unattended, can cause serious blockages in your plumbing, resulting in costly repair bills and potential health risks for your customers. That’s why every commercial kitchen needs to install a grease trap and have it regularly serviced by a licensed professional.
A grease trap is also known as a grease interceptor and it has been around since Victorian times, with Nathaniel Whiting obtaining the first patent in the late 1800s. The device basically consists of a large tank that separates FOG from wastewater by using baffle walls, an inlet pipe and water added to cool the wastewater and solidify the grease.
The FOG then travels through the inlet pipe into the second chamber and is trapped, while water and other debris exits through the outlet fitting and out to the sanitary sewer. A FOG interceptor can be either manual or automatic. Manual grease traps are cheaper to buy and install, but must be manually cleaned on a regular basis by a trained technician. Automatic units are more expensive, but they do the work for you on a set schedule and eliminate the risk of FOG leaving your kitchen and damaging the municipal sewer system.
When choosing a grease trap for your restaurant, it’s important to find one that is the right size. You don’t want a grease trap that is too small, as the FOG will just overflow into the waste pipes, and you don’t want a grease trap that’s too big, as it will cost more to purchase, operate and maintain. A good rule of thumb is to use the waste pipe’s diameter and calculate the DFU values for the sinks you plan on connecting it to to determine how much of a grease trap you need.
It’s also worth noting that you should never dispose of your used cooking oil down a drain, as it will solidify and travel through the plumbing system. It’s best to have your used cooking oil collected and recycled, where it can be processed into animal feed, food-safe lubricants and renewable biofuel.
How Does a Grease Trap Work?
Grease traps are large, box-shaped containers made of durable rubber or metal. They are usually located underground in accessible outdoor areas. They filter residual fats, oils and greases (FOG) from kitchen wastewater before it exits into the municipal sewer system. As wastewater passes through the trap, FOG floats while solid waste sinks, leaving water that can easily be directed to drains and onward into the city sewer system.
While there are many different models of grease interceptors available, they all perform the same basic function – stopping untoward kitchen matter from entering sewer lines. Some models are passive hydromechanical while others are automatically or manually operated. Others use baffle walls to slow down and separate wastewater, leaving FOG on top to be trapped, while clean water exits from the bottom of the tank into the sanitary sewer system.
Most FOG is 10 to 15 percent less dense than water, which means it floats on top of wastewater. As kitchen wastewater flows through a grease trap, it encounters the FOG and rises to the surface where it is captured by a series of baffle walls inside the interceptor tank. Once the FOG fills up a certain percentage of the trap’s volume, it is pumped out by a grease removal service company and hauled away for proper disposal.
Restaurants and other facilities that prepare food are required by law to have grease traps. Other establishments that need them include schools, hospitals, movie theatres and coffee shops. The latter use grease traps to manage the oily or solid food waste from their espresso machines and other appliances.
It’s important for FOG to be removed properly so that it doesn’t cause blockages or overflows. When kitchen grease is poured down the drain, it can solidify and clog plumbing in the facility, or it may enter the municipal sewer system and cause severe backups and overflows. These issues can contaminate drinking water and create health risks for customers, employees and the public. That’s why it is crucial to have a professional grease trap removal service regularly pump out your facility’s trap, keeping it at or below the one-fourth rule.
How Long Do Grease Traps Last?
Grease traps can last for up to 10 years if properly cleaned and maintained. However, the exact length of time will vary greatly depending on several factors, including local regulations, kitchen output and the size of the grease trap itself.
A key factor in determining how long a grease trap will last is how often it is emptied. In general, the rule of thumb is that a grease trap should be pumped out when it reaches a quarter of its capacity. The goal is to avoid allowing FOGS to reach a full level, which can cause problems such as inefficiency, unpleasant odors and potentially costly blockages.
For this reason, many cities and states have specific laws regarding how frequently a commercial kitchen should clean its grease trap. Some towns and cities even require businesses to have their grease traps inspected regularly in order to maintain compliance.
Aside from having to abide by these laws, it is also important for restaurant owners and managers to understand how often they should have their grease traps pumped out in order to ensure maximum effectiveness. Choosing a grease trap with a higher-capacity design will allow it to hold more waste and can reduce the frequency at which it needs to be emptied.
Additionally, it is important for restaurants to use proper sanitation practices when cooking, such as ensuring that all food scraps are removed from dishes before they are thrown away and that no liquids are poured down drains. Taking these preventative measures can significantly reduce the amount of time a grease trap will need to be emptied and can help extend its life.
If you’re unsure how often your grease trap should be pumped out, it is recommended that you contact a qualified service provider who can provide guidance. These professionals can inspect your traps and advise you on a cleaning schedule that is appropriate for your business, taking into account local regulations, kitchen output and the size of your trap. In addition to assisting with trap cleaning, these professionals can also perform inspections of your sink drains and sewer lines to make sure they are functioning correctly.
How Do I Maintain My Grease Trap?
Grease traps are an integral part of any commercial kitchen. Without them, our draining systems become clogged with fats, oils and grease (FOG), which leads to sewer blockages and overflows. These contaminated waters flow onto city streets, sidewalks and into storm drains, leading to the Bay. This is a health hazard to people walking on the streets and sidewalks, as well as to animals, plants and our municipal water supply.
Maintaining your grease traps regularly is vital to ensuring they work correctly and to help prevent issues such as sewer blockages, backups, and costly fines. The best way to ensure your grease traps are properly maintained is to hire professionals who know what they’re doing. They’re familiar with the rules and regulations at the local, state, and federal levels and can take the hassle of maintaining your grease traps off your hands.
It is important to keep in mind that the best grease traps are those that are made from stainless steel. These are more durable than other materials and can withstand the high temperatures that are produced during cooking. It is also essential to choose a company that specializes in grease trap maintenance. They will be able to help you determine the best size grease trap for your business and provide you with a thorough service.
A regular schedule of cleaning and pumping is one of the best ways to avoid potential problems with your grease traps. It is also recommended to have your traps inspected on a routine basis by a professional. A professional will be able to see if your traps are leaking, or if they are full of FOG which can cause them to not function properly.
Lastly, it is important to never use chemical cleaners in your traps. These chemicals can kill the natural bacteria that is needed in your grease traps to break down FOG and separate it from wastewater. Using chemical cleaners can also cause the FOG to flow down the plumbing system and clog pipes.
To clean your grease trap, first make sure it is empty and that no dishwashers or sinks are running. Then, remove the lid of the trap tank. You may need a wrench or crowbar to do this, but be careful not to damage the gasket. It is recommended that you use protective clothing, gloves, a plastic scraper, a bin and a bucket to catch the greasy water and oil.
